Braking apparatus and slack line control device



June 25, 1963 F. L. LE Bus, SR

BRAKING APPARATUS AND SLACK LINE CONTROL DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 28, 1960 X m. LeBUS, 52.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 25, 1963 F. L. LE BUS, SR

BRAKING APPARATUS AND SLACK LINE CONTROL DEVICE Filed Sept. 28, 1960 m. Tfl L L W F w 91 W G a 3 mm June 25, 1963 F. L. LE 1305, SR 3,

BRAKING APPARATUS AND SLACK LINE con-mo]. DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 28, 1960 INVENTOR. F L. LeBus 5/:

BY m ATTORNEY rates 3,095,183 BRAKING APPARATUS AND SLACK LINE CONTROL DEVICE Franklin L. Le Bus, Sn, Longview, Tex., assignor to Le Bus Royalty Company, Longview, Tex., a partnershi Filed Sept. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 58,987 3 Claims. (Cl. 254-175) This invention relates to improvements in cable spooling devices, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a braking apparatu and slack line control device for facilitating the control of a cable spooling and unspooling operation.

In the spooling or nnspooling of a cable or wire line onto a winch, hoist drum, or the like, the cable or line being spooled is normally under a constant tension in order that the line may be tightly wound or coiled around the drum core. The tension on the line maintains the line tightly wrapped on the drum at all times. The spooling drum is normally a free wheeling drum, particularly during the unspooling operation, and when the tension on the line is released for any reason, the tightly coiled line tends to unwrap from the drum in a spring-like action to provide a bird cage eiiect around the drum. This is a particular disadvantage in hoisting operations, and the like, wherein the load or tension on the cable may be unexpected and suddenly released. For example, in the loading of a ship, the cargo is usually hoisted from the dock for storage in the ships hold, which is usually three or four decks below the upper deck. When the load or cargo reaches the bottom of the hold, the load on the line is immediately reduced or eliminated, thus releasing the tension in the hoisting line or cable. Unless the rotation of the hoist Winch or drum is stopped immediately, the slack in the line will move through the line to the drum, and the cable or line will bird cage on the drum Whereby the control of the spooling or unspooling thereof will be lost. The same disadvantage of a sudden release of the tension in the hoisting line is frequently encountered in many mining hoisting operations, such as the raising and lowering of loading cars in the mine shafts. When the loading car reaches the end or limit of the track, the travel thereof is stopped substantially immediately, causing a sudden release of the tension in the line. Hoisting apparatus in utilization with drag line buckets, and the like, are also subjected to the sudden and unexpected releases of tension in the cable.

It will be apparent that the line or cable may kink or become badly entangled with itself during any bird cage action thereof on the drum. This accidental uncoiling of the line usually causes a distorted effect in the winding of the line whereby the control of the spooling operation may be completely lost.

The present invention contemplates abraking apparatus particularly designed and constructed for automatically stopping the rotation of the hoisting winch or drum upon a release of the tension in the cable. A slack line sheave device is preferably utilized in cooperation with the braking apparatus whereby the slack in the line upon a release of the tension therein is precluded from being transmitted to the drum, thus increasing the efliciency of the braking apparatus. The braking apparatus comprises a braking bar disposed in juxtaposition to the drum and so arranged for engaging the brake flanges substantially immediately upon slack or release of tension in the line. This assures a stoppage of the rotation .of the drum for precluding any birdcaging of the cable thereon. Furthermore, in the braking position, the braking bar engages the last wrap or outer layer of the cable on the drum for further retaining the cable in a closely coiled disposition on the drum. The action of the braking apparatus is automatic in response to the reduction of tension in the cable, and is substantially immediate, thus assuring an efiicient control of the spooling operation. It is preferable to provide a counterweight device for the braking bar to assure a suflicient pressure thereof against the drum flanges. This is necessary in order to stop the rotation of the drum substantially immediately upon the engagement of the braking bar. If there is not sufiicient braking pressure, the movement of the cable will be stopped prior to the stoppage of the drum rotation and the drum will continue to rotate, which results in a bird cage action of the cable. It is also important that the braking pressure not be too great as the application of excessive braking pressure requires an increased tension in the cable or line in order to disengage the brake from the drum. The brake bar is automatically released from the braking position, or engaged position, when the tension is picked up in the cable, thus permitting a free rotation of the .drum to be continued. However, a manual release member may be provided for the braking apparatus, if desired, for assisting the disengagement of the braking bar with the drum.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel braking apparatus for stopping the rotation of a cable spooling drum or winch apparatus upon the release of the tension in the cable.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel braking apparatus in combination with a slack line control mechanism whereby any slack in the cable is automatically precluded from being transmitted to the drum in a cable spooling or hoisting operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel braking apparatus automatically responsive to a release of the tension in the cable for engaging the outer wrap of the cable on a hoisting or spooling drum for facilitating the control of the spoolin-g operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel braking apparatus for automatically responding to :a release of tension in a hoisting cable whereby rotation of the spooling winch will be stopped substantially immediately with the release of the tension in the cable.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a novel braking apparatus so designed and constructed to provide the optimum braking pressure against the flanges of a spooling drum for assuring a substantially immediate stoppage of the rotation of the drum upon an engagement of the brake therewith.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a novel braking apparatus and slack line control device which is simple and efiicient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a braking apparatus and slack line control sheave embodying the invention, and depicting a disengaged position thereof with respect to a cable spooling apparatus.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIG. v1 and depicts the braking apparatus and slack line control device in an engaged position with respect to a cable spooling apparatus.

FIGURE 3 is' a detail view taken on line 3.3 of FIG. 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIGURE 5 is a force vector diagram depicting the forces in action in the braking apparatus.

FIGURE 6 is a detail view taken on line 66 of .FIG. 1.

7 FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a braking apparatus and slack line control sheave embodying the invention;

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character 10 generally indicates a braking apparatus secured in juxtaposition to a cable spooling drum or hoisting winch 12 having a cable or wire line -14 wound thereon. A suitable cable reeving apparatus or fleet angle corrector apparatus 16 is preferably secured in the proximity of the drum 12 and receives the cable therefrom for facilitating the spooling operation, as is well known. A fixed position sheave or slack line control device 18 is secured above the drum 12 and reeving apparatus :16 whereby the cable 14 passes thereunder and thence to the load (not shown), or the like, which is being manipulated thereby.

The reeving apparatus 16 may be of any suitable type, and ispreferably similar to that disclosed in my pendin-g application Serial No. 58,988, entitled Fleet Angle Correction Apparatus, filed September 28, 1960, now Patent No. 3,078,060. The reeving apparatus 16 com-prises a pair of spaced link arm members 20 and 20' pivotally secured at 21 to an outwardly extending flange or bracket member 22. -A similar pair of link arms (not shown) are transversely spaced from the arms 20 and 20' in substantial alignment therewith and are pivotally secured to a second bracket member (not shown) whereby the aligned pairs of move in vertical unison, but in opposite lateral directions. The opposite ends of the arms 20 and 20' are pivotally secured at 23 to a tie bar 24 which extends transveresly between the aligned pairs of arms for assuring a simultaneous movement therebetween. A second pair of spaced arms 25 and 25 are pivotally secured to the tie bar 24 at 26 and extend oppositely from the first arms 20 and 20'. A pair of arms (not shown) to the arms 25 and 25' are secured to the opposite end of the tie bar 24 and move in vertical unison therewith, but in an opposite lateral direction. 'A transversely extending shaft 27 is pivotally secured to the arms 25 and'25' at 28 and extends between the pairs of arms aligned therewith for assuring a simultaneous movement therebetween. A movable sheave 30 is journalled on the shaft 27 for receiving the cable 14 thereunder. The sheave 30 is responsive to tension in the cable 14 for moving longitudinally along the shaft 27 for maintaining the cable 14 in a path substantially perpendicular with respect to the axis of the drum. As is well known, the pressure of the cable 14 winding onto or unwinding from the drum 12 exerts a force against one side of the sheave 30 which forces or causes the sheave to move along the shaft 27.

The bracket 22 is rigidly secured to a transversely extending angle iron or bar member 31 which is pivotally secured at 32 to a pair of outwardly extending spaced flanges 33, only one of which is shown. The flanges 33 are rigidly secured to a suitable support member 34. It

will be apparent that the entire reeving apparatus 16 is free to pivot in a vertical direction, or plane about the pivot 32. Thus, the sheave '30 along with the shatt 27 moves vertically in response to variation in pressure or tension in the cable 14. When the tension in the cable 14 is released, the entire reeving apparatus 16 tends to rotate in a clockwise direction around the pivot 32 to the position shown in FIG. 2, for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth in detail.

The fixed position sheave 18 is journalled on a pivot member 35 extending between a pair of spaced pivot arms 36 and 37 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The pivot arms 36 and 37 are pivotally secured to a bracket member 38 by a pivot pin 40, and the bracket 38 may be rigidly secured to a suitable support member 42 in any well known manner (not'shown). The normal or usual tension in the cable 14 during the spooling or unspooling operation maintains the sheave 18 in a slightly raised position with respect 'to the bracket 38, as clearly shown in FIG. 1. However,

'will be apparent that the foot upon a release of the tension in the cable 14, the weight of the sheave 18 causes a downward movement or counterclockwise rotation thereof around the pivot pin 40. As a result, the cable 14 is clamped between the sheave '18 and the bracket 38, as clearly shown in FIG. 2. This clam-ping action of the sheave 18 and the bracket 38 in combination with the downward movement or lowering of the sheave 30 maintains the cable 14 substantially taut between the upper sheave 18 and the drum 12. This substantially precludes any slack in the line or cable '14 being transmitted to the 12.

The braking apparatus 10 comprises a pair of spaced lever arm members 44 (only one of which is shown) rigidly secured to the bar member 31 in any well known manner for pivoting around the pivot 32 simultaneously therewith. The lever arm members 44 are in substantial alignment and move in unison. A bell crank means comprising an arm 46 and a [link arm 50 is pivotally secured at 48 to each of the lever members 44, and the link arms 50 are pivotally secured at 52 to each of the arms 46. The opposite end of the first lever 50 is pivotally secured at 54 to a fixed bracket member 56. It will be apparent that the second lever arm 50 (not shown), which is transversely spaced from the first lever arm 50, is similarly secured to a bracket (not shown) similar to the bracket 56. A transversely extending angle iron member or bar 58 extends between the spaced levers 50 and is rigidly secured therebetween for a simultaneous rotation therewith around the pivot 54. An angled arm 60 is rigidly secured to the bar 58 in any suitable manner (not shown) and is preferably centrally disposed thereon and extends rearwardly therefrom. A counter-weight member 62 is carried by the angled arm 60 for a purpose as will 'be hereinafter set forth.

A pair of spaced brake arms 64 and 66 (FIGS. 4 and of spaced screws 74. The screws 74 are each slidably disposed in an aperture 76 provided in the lower block 72, and a spring 78 is disposed around each screw 74 between the blocks 70 and 72 for urging the block 70 in a direction away from the block 72. A swivel link member 80 has one end pivotally secured at 82 within a slot 84 provided in the lower block 72 and the other end pivotally secured at 86 in a slot 88 provided in the upper block 70. A second swivel link 90 is spaced from the swivel member 80 and is similarly pivotally secured between the blocks 70 and 72 whereby the blocks will move in opposite lateral directions upon the application of a perpendicular force on either of the block members, as will be hereinafter set forth.

One end of the block 70 is provided with a down- .or the like. The lateral movement of the blocks 70 and 72 will urge the braking pads 94 and 96 into a braking engagement with the drum flanges 67 and 69 for efliciently stopping the rotation of the drum 12, as will be hereinaiter set forth in detail.

A suitable foot pedal 98 may be pivotally secured at 100 to a fixed position bracket 102 whereby the outer end 104 thereof is disposed adjacent the angled arm 60. The pedal or lever 98 may be utilized for elevating the arm 60 to assist in disengaging the braking apparatus 10 from the engaged position with respect to the drum 12. It

pedal 98 may be omitted, if desired.

Operation During the spooling or unspooling of the cable 14 on the drum 12, the reeving apparatus 16 maintains the path of the cable 14 substantially perpendicular to the axis of the drum 12 for facilitating the eflicient spooling of the cable. The tension in the cable 14 maintains the sheave 30 substantially in the elevated position depicted in FIG. 1 throughout the spooling operation. The tension in the cable also maintains the slack line control sheave 18 in a raised position with respect to the bracket 38 as shown in FIG. 1. The spooling or unspooling operation may be continued as desired with an automatic control thereof since both the reeving apparatus 16 and slack line control sheave 18 are operated automatically in response to the pressure or tension in the cable 14.

The upper or raised position of the sheave 30 retains the entire reeving apparatus 16 in a raised position with respect to the horizontal whereby the lever arm 44 and bell crank 46 are so positioned that the transverse bar 58 is pivoted about the pivot 54 in order to position the braking bar 68 in a lowered or disengaged position with respect to the cable wound around the drum between the flanges 67 and 69. In this released position of the brake bar 68, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the springs 78 maintain the upper block 78 spaced at the extreme distance from the lower block 72 whereby the swivel links 80 and 9% function to place the blocks in substantial alignment with each other. This position of the blocks maintains the braking pads 94 and 96 inwardly disposed with respect to the drum flanges 67 and 69 whereby there is no engagement therebetween. Thus, the drum 12 is free to rotate for spooling or unspooling of the cable 14.

Substantially immediately upon the release of the tension in the cable 14, such as when the load (not shown) being manipulated thereby has been dropped onto a solid support, the weight of the slack line control sheave 18 causes the sheave todrop, or rotate in a counter-clockwise direction around the pivot pin 40 as viewed in the drawings, to the position depicted in FIG. 2. The cable 14 is securely clamped between the sheave 1S and the bracket 38 not only stopping the movement of the cable, but also precluding any slack in the line from being transmitted to the drum 12.

The release of the tension in the cable 14 also permits the sheave 30 to move downwardly toward the position shown in FIG. 2, whereby the entire reeving apparatus 16 will rotate in a clockwise direction about the pivot 32, as viewed in the drawings. This clockwise rotation is transmitted to the lever arm 44 whereby the bell crank 46 is moved in a left hand direction for actuation of the link member 58 to rotate the bar 58 in a counter-clockwise direction. The rotation of the bar 58 in combination with the weight of the counter-weight member 62 moves the arms 64 and 66 in a direction for positioning the braking bar 68 adjacent the outer layer or wrap of the cable 14 on the drum 12, as shown in FIG. 4. The contact of the upper block 70 with the cable 14 on the drum combined with the continued upward movement of the arms 64 and 66 urges the upper block 70 in a direction toward the block 72 against the action of the springs 78. As the block 70 moves toward the block 72, the swivel links 80 and 90 move the block 70 in a lateral direction toward the drum flange 67, and simultaneously move the block 72 in a lateral direction toward the drum flange 69. This expansible movement of the braking bar 68 moves the braking pads 94 and 96 into a braking engagement with the drum flanges 67 and 69, respectively, for substantially instantaneously stopping the rotation of the drum 12.

This sudden stoppage of the rotation of the drum combined with the clamping action of the slack line control sheave 18 upon the release of the tension in the cable 14 substantially precludes any bird cage action of the cable around the drum. -In addition, the pressure of the block member 70 adjacent the outer layer of the cable on the drum tends to retain the cable tightly coiled around the drum, and prevents one wrap of the cable from overlapping an adjacent wrap.

The counter-weight member 62 is particularly selected in accordance with the operating circumstances or conditions with which the braking apparatus 10 is to be utilized. It is particularly important to provide enough weight for the counter-weight to assure suflicient pressure of the block member 7 0 against the'cable on the drum for actuating the blocks 70 and 72 in order to provide an eflicient braking engagement of the pads 94 and 96 against the flanges 67 and 69. If the weight is too small, the drum will continueto rotate after the movement of the cable has been stopped, and the cable will tend to bird cage" thereon. Conversely, if the weight of the counter-weight is too great, an excessive tension in the cable will be required for releasing the brake.

FIGURE 5 is a force diagram depicting the forces act ing in the braking apparatus 10. W represents the force exerted by the arms 64 and 66, and B represents the force exerted on the drum flanges 67 and 69 by the brake blocks 70 and 72. Angle A indicates the angle of the link or swivel arms and with respect to the blocks 70 and 72. The force B can be ascertained by the formula:

W Tan A This facilitates the determination of the braking pressure of the apparatus 18, and enables the proper counter-weight determination to be made.

The braking apparatus 10 will automatically be disengaged from the drum upon a picking up of the tension in the cable 14. As the tension returns to the cable, the slack line control sheave 18 will be elevated or rotated in a clockwise direction around the pivot 40' for releasing the clamping engagement of the cable. Simultaneously with the release of the clamping engagement, the sheave 30 will be moved upwardly for pivoting the bar 31 in a counter-clockwise direction around the pivot 32. This reverse action moves the bell crank member 46 in a right hand direction for reversing the rotation of the bar 58. The bar 58 is thus rotated in a clockwise direction for dropping the arms 64 and 66 downwardly and moving the braking bar 68 away from the engagement with the drum 12. As the block 70 drops downwardly away from the contact with the cable on the drum, the springs 78 tend to separate the blocks 70 and 72, whereby the swivel members 80 and 90 will move the pads 94 and 96 inwardly and out of engagement with the drum flanges 67 and 69, respectively. This releases the drum 12 for rotation whereby the spooling or unspooling operation may be continued.

If desired, the pedal 98 may be utilized for facilitating the disengagement of the braking bar 68 from the drum 12. The pedal 98 may be depressed manually for pivoting about the point 102 whereby the end 104 thereof will elevate the angled arm 60. This movement of the arm 60 will rotate the bar 58 in a direction for dropping the arms 64 and 66 downwardly and moving the braking bar 68 out of engagement with the drum. However, it is apparent that the entire operation, both the engaging and disengaging of the braking apparatus '10, is automatic in response to the tension in the cable 14, and the pedal 98 may be omitted.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel braking apparatus and slack line control device wherein the rotation of the cable winding drum or hoisting winch is automatically stopped substantially immediately upon the release of the tension in the cable. The slack line control device is responsive to the release of the tension in the cable for clamping the cable in order to preclude any slack in the line from being transmitted to the drum, thus facilitating the operation of the braking apparatus. The :braking apparatus and slack line control device also respond automatically to the picking up of the tension in the cable for releasing the clamping and braking action for permitting the con- "tinuation of the cable spooling or unspooling operation.

ment of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing 'fiom the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a flanged drum having a cable wound thereon, a braking apparatus comprising lever arm means secured in juxtaposition to the drum, a braking 'bar carried by the lever arm means, means responsive to the tension in the cable for actuating the lever arm means to move the braking bar to alternate positions of engagement and disengagement with the drum, said braking bar comprising a pair of spaced block members adapted to engage the flanges of the drum, resilient means anchored between the block members to normally separate the members, pivotal means cooperating between the block members to provide simultaneous and opposite lateral movement thereof upon the engagement of one of the block members with the cable on the drum, braking pad means carried by the block members for engaging the 'drum flangesupon said lateral movement of the block members, and counter-weight means carried by the lever arm means for assuring an efficient engagement of the braking bar with the drum.

2. In combination with a drum having a cable wound thereon, a braking apparatus comprising a braking bar secured in juxtaposition to the drum, lever arm means carried by the braking bar and responsive to tension in the cable for maintaining the braking bar disengaged from the cable wound on said drum, means carried by said braking bar adapted to be moved into braking contact with a portion of said drum, means cooperating with said lever arm means and responsive to release of the ten- 7 sion in the cable for automatically movingthe braking bar into engagement with the cable wound on the drum, the

engagement of said braking bar with the cable wound on the drum actuating said means carried by said braking bar into braking contact with said portion of said drum, said braking bar when disposed in contact with the outermost layer of cable wound on the drum in the engaged nreans carried by the braking bar and responsive to tension in the cable for maintaining the braking bar disengaged from the cable wound on the drum, means carried by said braking bar adapted to be moved into braking engagement with the flanges of the drum, means cooperating with said lever arm means and responsive to release of the tension in the cable for automatically moving the braking bar into engagement with the cable wound on the drum, the engagement of said braking bar with the cable wound on the drum actuating said means carried by said braking bar into braking engagement with said flanges of the drum. 5

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 60,456 Zinck' Dec. 11, 1866 1,107,934 Hagan Aug. 18, 1914 1,408,273 Davis Feb. 28, 1922 r 1,749,745 Walther Mar. 4, 1930 2,131,868 Bolton et al. Oct.'4, 1938 2,462,972 Johnson Mar. 1, 1949 2,620,996 Le Bus Dec. 9, 1952 2,708,080 Le Bus May 10, 1955 2,734,695 Le Bus Feb. 14, 1956 2,920,721 Dodge Jan. 12, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 427,443 Great Britain Apr. 24, 1935 

2. IN COMBINATION WITH A DRUM HAVING A CABLE WOUND THEREON, A BRAKING APPARATUS COMPRISING A BRAKING BAR SECURED IN JUXTAPOSITION TO THE DRUM, LEVER ARM MEANS CARRIED BY THE BRAKING BAR AND RESPONSIVE TO TENSION IN THE CABLE FOR MAINTAINING THE BRAKING BAR DISENGAGED FROM THE CABLE WOUND ON SAID DRUM, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BRAKING BAR ADAPTED TO BE MOVED INTO BRAKING CONTACT WITH A PORTION OF SAID DRUM, MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID LEVER ARM MEANS AND RESPONSIVE TO RELEASE OF THE TENSION IN THE CABLE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MOVING THE BRAKING BAR INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CABLE WOUND ON THE DRUM, THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID BRAKING BAR WITH THE CABLE WOUND ON THE DRUM ACTUATING SAID MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BRAKING BAR INTO BRAKING CONTACT WITH SAID PORTION OF SAID DRUM, SAID BRAKING BAR WHEN DISPOSED IN CONTACT WITH THE OUTERMOST LAYER OF CABLE WOUND ON THE DRUM IN THE ENGAGED POSITION THEREOF SUBSTANTIALLY PRECLUDING LOOSENING OF THE WOUND CABLE. 